Unitizing and locking  multi-pot carrier tray

ABSTRACT

A carrier tray configured to retain and carry one or more pots. In particular embodiments, the carrier tray includes a base and a pot-receiving aperture arranged within the base and configured to receive and store a pot. The tray also includes a ledge arranged along an inner perimeter of the aperture and configured to receive a rim of a pot for storage in the carrier tray, and a pot-locking tab formed in the base and extending radially inward at a location along the inner perimeter of the aperture, the pot-locking tab is spaced above the ledge to form a cavity between the pot-locking tab and ledge, the cavity configured to receive a portion of the rim.

The present non-provisional application claims priority to, and thebenefit of, U.S. provisional application No. 61/664,311, filed with theU.S. Patent Office on Jun. 26, 2012, which is incorporated herein byreference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates generally to containers and trays, andmore specifically to a carrier tray used to store and carry one or morepots. In more specific embodiments, the carrier tray unitizes and locksthe one or more pots within the carrier tray.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Pots are generally used to grow a variety of plants, transportseedlings, plants, or trees, as well as for other agricultural orcommercial purposes. There is a need for a mechanism that allows forsecured, unitary transportation of one or multiple pots.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a carrier tray having one or moreapertures formed in a base for receiving a pot, the inner perimeter ofthe aperture having one or more locking tabs to secure the pot withinthe aperture and the tray. In particular embodiments, a carrier trayconfigured to retain and carry one or more pots includes a base and apot-receiving aperture arranged within the base and configured toreceive and store a pot. The tray also includes a ledge arranged alongan inner perimeter of the aperture and configured to receive a rim of apot for storage in the carrier tray, and a pot-locking tab formed in thebase and extending radially inward at a location along the innerperimeter of the aperture, the pot-locking tab is spaced above the ledgeto form a cavity between the pot-locking tab and ledge, the cavityconfigured to receive a portion of the rim.

These and other exemplary embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed in more detail by the drawings and detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One or more exemplary embodiments of the carrier tray for securelystoring one or more pots are described below with reference to thefollowing figures.

FIG. 1 is a top view of a pot arranged within an aperture of a carriertray according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the carrier tray and pot shown in FIG. 1 above.

FIG. 3A is a sectional side view showing the securement of the potwithin the tray according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3B is an additional sectional side view showing the securement ofthe pot within the tray according to another embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 3C is still another sectional side view showing the securement ofthe pot within the tray according to one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrates a carrier tray 1 retaining a pot 2 within apot-receiving aperture 3 arranged in the carrier tray. In the figure,one pot is shown arranged in one aperture. It is understood that one ormore (i.e., multiple) apertures may be arranged within the tray to eachreceive and store a pot for securement and storage.

The tray 1 includes a base 4 having a top surface 5 through and whichaperture 3 extends. One or more outer sidewalls 6 extend in a generallyvertical direction around at least a portion of an outer perimeter 7 ofbase 4 to strengthen the tray and to form a means of handling orgrasping the tray. Furthermore, one or more inner walls 8 extendvertically from an inner perimeter 9 of aperture 3 to strengthen thetray and the base for retaining any pot within the correspondingaperture.

Arranged along the inner perimeter 9 is a ledge 10 configured to receivea rim 11 of a corresponding pot 2. The rim 11 is arranged along an openend 12 of the pot 2 atop sidewalls 13. In particular locations aroundthe inner perimeter, the ledge 10 includes a pot-locking tab 15extending radially inward. The tab 15 is spaced above ledge 10 to form acavity or recess 16 between the tab and ledge for receiving a lip 14,the lip extending outwardly from the rim of the pot. The tab 15 is sizedsuch that when the pot 2 is arranged within the tray, the lip 14 or rim11 extends into cavity 16 such that tab 15 locks the lip or rim betweenthe ledge 10 and tab 15. In FIG. 3A, tab 15 is configured such that thelip 14 is secured within cavity 16. In FIG. 3B, tab 15 is arrangedfurther from ledge 10 such that a side portion of the rim 11 extendswithin cavity 16. In FIG. 3C, tab 15 is arranged even further from ledge10 such that the full height of the rim arranged within cavity 16.Accordingly, it is understood that these locking tabs 15 may be locatedat the top of the pot rim 11, a return or side of the pot rim 11, and/orat the projection outward 14 from the return on the rim 11.

It is understood that the tray may be formed of any material, includingplastic, and may be formed using any known process, including anymolding process, such as thermoforming, injection molding, or blowmolding. It is also understood that the pot may comprise any size orshape, and the corresponding tray aperture for receiving said pot mayalso comprise any shape, and may be similarly shaped to receive acorresponding pot. The locking tabs 15 may be designed to hold a potwith any shape, diameter, or height so that it may be secured in thecarrier tray 1. An additional feature of the locking tabs 15 is thatthey may be manufactured in a way that would allow a pot 2 to beinserted into the carrier tray 1 from either the top or the bottom ofthe carrier tray 1 in order to promote ease of use for a user.

Particular embodiments of the invention may include one or more variousoptions for handle attachment hole(s) and tag attachment hole(s) whichmay be of a variety of shapes and sizes depending on the shape and sizeof the handle or tag. Further, the shape of the base or carrier topsurface may be can be flat, sloped towards the pot, or sloped away fromthe pot in order to either promote or reject water from running into thepot 2 from the top of the tray 1.

I/we claim:
 1. A carrier tray configured to retain and carry one or morepots, the tray comprising: a base; a pot-receiving aperture arrangedwithin the base and configured to receive and store a pot; a ledgearranged along an inner perimeter of the aperture and configured toreceive a rim of a pot for storage in the carrier tray; a pot-lockingtab formed in the base and extending radially inward at a location alongthe inner perimeter of the aperture, the pot-locking tab is spaced abovethe ledge to form a cavity between the pot-locking tab and ledge, thecavity configured to receive a portion of the rim.
 2. The carrier trayof claim 1, wherein the base has a top surface through which thepot-receiving aperture extends.
 3. The carrier tray of claim 1 furthercomprising: one or more outer sidewalls extending in a generallyvertical direction around at least a portion of an outer perimeter ofthe base, configured to strengthen the tray and to form a means ofhandling or grasping the tray.
 4. The carrier tray of claim 1 furthercomprising: one or more inner walls extending vertically from the innerperimeter of the aperture and configured to strengthen the tray and thebase for retaining any pot within the aperture.
 5. The carrier tray ofclaim 1, wherein the base has a top surface through which thepot-receiving aperture extends.
 6. The carrier tray of claim 1, wherethe cavity between the pot-locking tab and ledge is configured toreceive, and the pot-locking tab is configured to secure, a lipextending outwardly from the rim of the pot.
 7. The carrier tray ofclaim 1, where the cavity between the pot-locking tab and ledge isconfigured to receive, and the pot-locking tab is configured to secure,a full-height of the rim of the pot.
 8. The carrier tray of claim 1,where the aperture is configured to receive the pot from a top of thetray.
 9. The carrier tray of claim 1, where the aperture is configuredto receive the pot from a bottom of the tray.
 10. The carrier tray ofclaim 1, wherein the pot is arranged within the aperture of the carriertray, the rim of the pot being arranged within the cavity and betweenthe pot-locking tab and ledge, the rim arranged along an open end of thepot atop one or more sidewalls of the pot.
 11. The carrier tray of claim6, wherein the pot is arranged within the aperture of the carrier tray,the lip of the rim being arranged within the cavity and between thepot-locking tab and ledge, where the cavity is configured to receive,and the pot-locking tab is configured to secure, the lip extendingoutwardly from the rim of the pot, the rim arranged along an open end ofthe pot atop one or more sidewalls of the pot.
 12. The carrier tray ofclaim 7, wherein the pot is arranged within the aperture of the carriertray, the rim of the pot being arranged within the cavity and betweenthe pot-locking tab and ledge, where the cavity is configured toreceive, and the pot-locking tab is configured to secure, the afull-height of the rim of the pot, the rim arranged along an open end ofthe pot atop one or more sidewalls of the pot.
 13. The carrier tray ofclaim 1, wherein the carrier tray is a molded tray formed by a moldingprocess.
 14. The carrier tray of claim 1, wherein the aperture includesa plurality of pot-locking tabs spaced apart around the aperture. 15.The carrier tray of claim 1, wherein the carrier tray includes aplurality of apertures.